Duration Degeneracy: A Curvature-Triggered Suppression of Proper-Time Evolution

General relativity predicts spacetime singularities under conditions of extreme curvature. These represent finite-time divergences indicating breakdown of the classical theory. This work proposes a minimal curvature-triggered modification in which the effective generator of proper-time evolution becomes curvature-dependent and asymptotically approaches zero near a critical curvature scale κ*. Collapse therefore asymptotically freezes rather than reaching finite-time divergence, while all weak-field predictions of general relativity are preserved. The model produces a falsifiable observational consequence in the form of logarithmically spaced gravitational wave echo signatures scaling with black hole mass. This document serves as a conceptual minimal hypothesis and priority record.